Permutation lock



A. J. DENERICH PERMUTATION LOCK my 39 M934.

Filed June 25, 1932 2 sheets-sheet 1 Ju11y3,w34. AJDENEWCH 1,964,936

PERMUTATION LOCK Filed June 25, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ani/Honey Jenerz'oh- Patented July 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PERMUTATION LOCK AnthonyJ. Denerich, Hartford, Conn., assignor to The Sesamee Company, Hartford,Conn., a. corporation of Connecticut Application June 25, 1932, SerialNo. 619,261

18 Claims.

This invention relates generally to keyless locks, and has particularreference to permutation locks cf the type provided with a plurality ofsettable wheels or tumblers bearing suitable indicia and with which areassociated lock controlling elements. As an instance of a use to whichthe improvements of the present invention may be applied, reference maybe had to padlocks, as my improvements are peculiarly applicablethereto, but it is to be understood that the disclosure of thisapplication of my improvements is by way of illustration only, certainof the improvements being of general application to locks of the typementioned irrespective of their intended use.

An aim of the present invention is to provide an improved lock of thissort which cannot be surreptitiously opened by unauthorized persons notknowing the selected or prevailing combinal tion by tapping, pounding,or otherwise jarring the lock in such a way as to disengage the lockingbolt or element from the shackle, catch, or other securing element.

A further aim of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement oflocking mechanism wherein the shackle, catch, or other securing elementmay be released from the locking bolt after the tumblers have been setto the selected or prevailing combination by manipulating the shackleitself, as by pressing it inwardly towards the casing and without thenecessity of manipulating or operating separate releasing means ormanipulative elements, such as a knob or the like.

One objection to padlccks of the permutation type has been that theshackle, after it has been opened, could be moved back to its normallylocked position and retained in that position without actually lockingthe same there and while the prevailing or selected combination is on.Not infrequently, the user of such padlocks will move the shackle homeand forget to disturb or break the prevailing combination with theliability that some unauthorized person will come along and either openthe lock or make note of the prevailing combination for futureunauthorized use.

An aim of the present invention is to overcome this objection and, tothat end, the arrangement is such that the shackle, after it has beenreleased, cannot again be held in its locked position unless theprevailing combination is disturbed; that is to say, the shackle, afterit has been released, is automatically returned to its open position inthe event it is moved tolocked position so long as the prevailingcombination has been disturbed, thus giving a signal to the user that hehas not disturbed the combination.

A further object is to provide a padlock with improved means of a simplenature for preventing the shackle from being locked when the same is notin locking position.

Another aim of the invention is to provide an improved permutation lockof the character described which is characterized by its simplicity inconstruction, by its economy in manufacture, by its strength andruggedness, by the security with which the securing element is held inlocked position, and by the ease and facility with which itmay bemanipulated.

Other objects will be in part obvious and, in part, pointed out more indetail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown, for illustrativepurposes, one of the many embodiments which the present invention maytake,

Figure l is a side view of the lock in section, this view being takensubstantially on line 1--1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but taken on a vertical plane throughthe center of the lock, this view being taken substantially on line 2-2of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View through the lock taken at right angles to theplanes on which Figs. 1 and 2 are taken, this view being takensubstantially on line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the locking bolt inunlocked position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the locking bolt;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan View of the lock;

Figs. 7 to 11, inclusive, are diagrammatic views showing the variouspositions of the parts during the operation of moving the shackle fromineffective position to eective or locked position; and

Fig. 12 is a detail view on line 12--12 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 designates generally a casing ofany suitable kind within which is positioned a frame or chassis having apair of side members or plates 11, a cross portion 12 connecting theupper and rear edges of the side members, and a face plate 13 closingthe lower open end of the casing and provided with openings foraccommodating the tumblers. The casing and the chassis or frame form asupporting structure for the operative parts of the locking mechanism.The chassis may be secured in place within the casing by a screw 14.

In the present illustrated disclosure, the securing element is shown asbeing in the form of a shackle 15 having a long leg 16 passing throughan opening 17 in the casing. 'I'his leg has, at its inner end, a headedstem 18 which terminates in a pointed teat or pivot 18'. The stem 18passes through and is slidably received by a notch 19 in an ear or lug20 formed integrally with the casing. The stem has a laterally extendinglug or fm 19 adapted to engage in or register with the notch 19 onlywhen the shackle is in a position where its short end registers with theopening 23. Between the lug 20 and the lower end of the leg 16, andpositioned about the stem 18, is a coiled spring 21 which normally tendsto urge the shackle outwardly into ejected or ineffective position. Theshort leg 22 of the shackle is adapted to be received by an opening 23in the top wall of the casing, and the lower end of this leg has itsedge chamfered or rounded, as at 24. Each leg has a notch or recess 25defined by an upper wall or shoulder 26 and a lower wall or shoulder 27.Within the casing and in line with the opening 23 is a projection 28,the upper end 29 of-which constitutes a shoulder or stop which limitsmovement of the shackle inwardly of the casing.

The permutation members or wheels, designated generally by the numeral35, are suitably supported upon a shaft 36 which, in turn, is supportedby the side members of the chassis or frame. Each permutation wheel hasassociated with it a concealed lock-controlling element, here shown asbeing in the form of a disk 37, cut away at one side so as to provide anotch 33. The peripheries of the permutation wheels are provided withsuitable indicia, in the present case this indicia being in the form ofequally spaced markings running from zero to nine. Portions of theperipheries of these wheels extend through the openings in the faceplate 13 so that they are accessible for manipulation from the exteriorof the casing. For the purpose of retaining the permutation wheels inthe various positions in which they may be set, the wheels are providedin their peripheries with spaced notches 39 with which cooperate theends of spring fingers 40. These spring fingers may be provided on anintegral spring plate secured in place by a screw 41. The permutationwheels are so supported that the combination may be readily changed, acombination change mechanism being shown in the accompanying drawingswhich is similar to that disclosed in the reissue patent to A. G. Hatch,No. 16,833, dated December 27, 1927. The shaft 36 is mounted for slidingmovement and carries a finger piece 100 extending through an opening 101in the face plate 13. A spring 102 normally urges the shaft to theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Each lock controlling element hasassociated with it a hub 103, and each hub has splines or ribs 104 inits outer periphery. Each permutation wheel has a central openingprovided with grooves adapted to receive the ribs 104 on a respectivehub. To change the combination, it is merely necessary to push the shaftto the left to thereby disengage the hubs from the wheels, then turn theWheels to the desired combination, and finally release the shaft,whereupon it will assume the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In thepresent arrangement, the shackle is so constructed that when it is inits effective position it prevents operation of the combination changemechanism. To this end, in the present illustrated disclosure, a longarm of the shackle has a head 105 which lies behind the left-hand end ofthe change combination shaft when the shackle is in effective position.Thus, movement of the shaft, together with the hubs carried thereby,towards the left, is prevented as long as the shackle is in effectiveposition.

Reference will now be had to the locking bolt or element the structureof which is most clearly shown in Fig. 5. This plate has a body portionprovided at its upper end with a ange 51 the free corners of which arecurved, as at 52, and which corners constitute dogs adapted to engage inthe recesses or notches 25 in the arms of the shackle when the shackleis in locked position. At opposite sides of the plate 50 and spacedbelow the ange 51 are outwardly extending ears or lugs 53 of generallyrectangular shape. Depending from the lower edge of the body portion 50of the plate are a plurality of ngers or tangs 54, two being shown inthe present instance, it being understood, however, that the numberthereof will depend upon the number of permutation wheels and thearrangement of those wheels. In the present instance, there are but twoof these fingers or tangs because two of the lock controlling elements37 are positioned in abutting relation. Each of these fingers or tangscarries a lug 55 on its rear face. The right-hand lug (which is theleft-hand lug in Fig, 5) is adapted to cooperate with the left-handlocking element as viewed from Figs. 1 and 2, and the lefthand lug(which is the right-hand lug as viewed from Fig, 5) is adapted tocooperate with the two abutting lock controlling elements 37.

Referring now to the manner in which this locking plate or bolt ismounted, it will be seen, that each of the side members of the chassisis provided, at its forward edge, with an upwardly facing shoulder and ahook shaped projection 6l disposed in spaced relation above saidshoulder. This projection has at its outer end a depending tongue orguard 62 behind which is a notch 63 open at its lower end. The edge ofthe side member and between the shoulder and the notch and adjacent theshoulder has a forwardly directed hump or cam portion 64 which forms afulcrum for the locking bolt of the plate. The relation of the parts issuch that when the locking bolt is assembled on the chassis the ears 53are disposed above the respective shoulders 60 and, when the lower edgesof these ears rest on those shoulders, the upper edges of the ears willclear the tongues 62. The rear faces of the ears are adapted to engagethe fulcrums 64 and, when the locking plate is in raised position, theupper edges of the ears are received by the respective notches 63 sothat they are disposed behind the guards or tongues 62.

For the purposes of holding the locking plate so that the ears thereofare in engagement with the fulcrum 64 and also for moving the platedownwardly (after the tumblers have been set to the prevailingcombination and the shackle is pushed in as hereinafter described morein detail) there is provided a spring 65. In the present instance, thisspring is coiled about a cross pin 66 suitably supported by the chassisabove the tumblers. One end of this spring terminates in an arm 6'7which bears against the front face of the cross portion 12 of thechassis and the other end of the spring terminates in an arm 68 whichprou jects forwardly and downwardly through an opening 69 in the lockingplate, said opening being disposed substantially in the line on whichthe locking plate is fulcrumed. The extreme end of the arm 68 is bentdownwardly, as at '70, so as to prevent disengagement of the lockingplate from the spring.

To secure the shackle in locked or effective position, the followingoperation takes place, particular reference being had to thediagrammatic liO showing of Figs. 7 to 11. Assuming that the permutationmembers are set to the prevailing combination, as shown in Fig. 7, (andalso Fig. 4) and the bolt and shackle are in ineffective or releasedpositions, one or more of the indicia wheels is turned, whereupon thelock controlling element associated with that wheel will cam the lockingplate from the position shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 8 and inwhich latter position one of the dogs 52 is beneath and in line with theopening 23 which receives the short arm of the shackle. When the lockingplate is thus swung to the position shown in Fig. 8, it may move upslightly so that the upper ends of the lugs 53 are behind the tongues62. The shackle is now pushed towards its effective position, whereuponthe lower end of the short arm of the shackle will cam the locking platefrom the position shown in Fig. 8 to the position shown in Fig. 9 and inwhich latter position the lugs 53 are free of the notches 63 and theselugs are disposed beneath the tongues 62. As the shackle is pushedfurther in and past its normal effective position, the notches 25 of theshackle arms are brought to a position where they are level with thedogs 52, whereupon the spring 65 will pull the upper end of the lockingplate rearwardly, thereby engaging the dogs in the notches 25, as shownin Fig. 10. During such movement, the locking plate will swing orfulcrum, of course, about the line at which the lugs engage theperipheries of the disks 37. Inward pressure on the shackle is nowreleased, whereupon the spring 21 behind the shackle will urge theshackle outwardly to the position shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 11. When theshackle thus moves out, the locking plate is moved therewith from theposition shown in Fig. 10 to that shown in Fig. 11.

It will be observed, of course, that the shackle may be locked by firstpushing the shackle to the position shown in Fig. l0 and then breakingthe prevailing combination by turning one or more of the disks from theposition shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 10.

'Io unlock the mechanism, the indicia wheels are turned to theprevailing combination so that the notches 38 of the disks are in aposition to receive the lugs 55 of the locking plate, as` shown in Fig.4. Then the shackle may be pressed inwardly from its normal effectiveposition shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4, whereupon theshoulders 27 forming the lower limits of the recesses 25 in the shackleare removed from the dogs sothat the spring is now free to bodily andendwise move the locking plate in a downward direction and then swingthat plate about the fulcrum 64 as a pivot after the plate has beenmoved downwardly7 to such an extent that the ears 53 are clear of thetongues 62. As shown in Fig. 4, the lugs 55 now engage in the notches 38of the lock controlling disks and the dogs are removed from the line ofmovement of the shackle. Upon release of pressure upon the shackle, thespring 21 will force the shackle to its ineffective position and inwhich position the short arm of the shackle is clear of the casing.Obviously, of course, to unlock the device, the shackle may be firstpushed in to the position shown in Fig. 4 and then the indicia wheelsset to the prevailing or selected combination.

It will be observed that, after the shackle has been released toineifective position, it cannot again be secured in effective positionunless the prevailing combination has been disturbed. This is so, aswill be seen from Fig. 4, because the dogs are not in a position toengage the shackle when it is pushed in. Therefore, the spring 21 isfree to urge the shackle back to ineffective position, and the opencondition of the shackle serves as a signal to the user that the deviceis not properly locked. He will not, therefore, leave the device underthe impression that it is locked and with the prevailing combinationshowing.

It will further be seen that to move the shackle from effective orlocked position to ineffective or released position, after theprevailing combination has been set up on the indicia wheels, it ismerely necessary to push the shackle in to a slightly greater extent,that is, from the position shown in Fig. l to that shown in Fig. 4, andthen release pressure on the shackle, whereupon the spring 21 will movethe shackle to ineffective position.

It will further be seen that, when the parts are in the locking positionshown in Figs. 1 and 3, the padlock cannot be surreptitiously opened byunauthorized persons not knowing the combination by tapping or otherwisejarring the lock. When the device is in locked condition, the dogsoverhang the shoulders 27 and the lugs 53 engage the upper edges of thenotches 63 so that the shackle cannot be withdrawn. The old method ofopening locks by exerting a steady pulling force on the shackle whilesubjecting the lock to a series of taps in order to withdraw a springpressed bolt in a series of short steps cannot Ybe successfully usedwith my improved arrangement because the lugs 53 of the locking plateare disn posed behind the fixed tongues or guards 62,

thus eliminating any possibility of the locking 111i plate being swungout of locking engagement with the shackle.

It will further be seen that, due to the arrangement of the iin 19 andthe lug 20, the shackle cannot be locked in a position where its short"v arm is to one side of the casing and not in the opening 23 of thecasing. When the short arm of the shackle registers with the opening 23,the iin registers with the notch in the lug and, at

such time, the shackle can be pushed in to locked position. However,when the shackle is in inef` fective position and is in an angularposition where the short arm thereof does not register with the opening23, the fin is above the lug 20 and,

therefore, the shackle can be pushed home.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and manyapparently widely dinerent embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above i ments and adapted when the prevailingcombination is disturbed to lock said securing element in effectiveposition, guard means for positively holding said locking element inlocking relation with said securing element while the prevailingcombination is disturbed, and spring j means for urging said lockingelement into locking position when the prevailing combination isdisturbed.

2. In a permutation lock, permutation members each provided with a lockcontrolling elej ment, a securing element having an eiective positionand an ineffective position, a locking element controlled by said lockcontrolling elements and adapted when the prevailing combination isdisturbed to lock said securing element in effective position, a ixedguard adapted to cooperate with said locking element when the latter isin locking position to positively hold the same in locked relation tosaid securing element; said locking element being free of said guardwhen the prevailing combination is set up on said permutation membersand said securing device is released, and spring means for urging saidlocking element into locking position when the prevailing combination isdisturbed.

3. In a permutation lock, permutation members each provided with a lockcontrolling element, a securing element having an effective position anineffective position, a locking element controlled by said lockcontrolling elcments and adapted when the prevailing combination isdisturbed to lock. said securing element in eiiective position, andguard means With which said locking element is interlocked when saidlocking element is in locking engagement with said securing element,said locking element being moved into interlocking relation with saidguard means by said securing element.

4. In a permutation lock, permutation members each provided with a lockcontrolling element, a securing element having an effective position andan ineffective position, a spring urging said securing element towardsits ineffective position, a locking element controlled by said lockcontrolling elements and adapted when the prevailing combination isdisturbed to lock said securing element in effective position, and guardmeans with which said locking element is interlocked when said lockingelement is in locking engagement With said securing element, saidlocking element being moved into interlocking relation with said guardmeans by said securing element.

5. In a permutation lock, permutation members each provided with a lockcontrolling element, a securing element having an eiective position andan ineffective position, a locking element controlled by said lockcontrolling elements and adapted When the prevailing combination isdisturbed to lock said securing element in eiective position, guardmeans with which said locking element is interlocked when said lockingelement is in locking engagement with said securing element, saidlocking element being moved into interlocking relation with said guardmeans by said securing element, and means for urging said lockingelement out of disengagement with said guard means when the lockcontrolling elements are set to the prevailing combination.

6. In a permutation lock, permutation members each provided with a lockcontrolling element, a securing element movfble from an ineiectiveposition to an effective position and to a third position slightly pastthe effective position, a locking element controlled by said lockcontrolling elements and adapted to lock said securing element againstmovement from the eiective position to the ineffective position, andiixed guard means with which said locking element is interlocked whenthe lock is in locked condition, said locking element being moved intointerlocking relation with said guard means by said securing elementwhen the latter is moved from said third position to its effectiveposition.

7. In a permutation lock, permutation members each provided with a lockcontrolling Aelement, a securing element movable from an ineffectiveposition to an effective position and to a third position slightly pastthe effective position, a locking element controlled by said lockcontrolling elements and adapted to lock said securing element againstmovement from effective to ineffective position, a xed guard with whichsaid lock is interlocked when the mechanism isin locked condition, saidlocking element being moved into interlocking relation with said guardby said securing element when the latter is moved from said thirdposition to its effective position, and a spring associated with saidlocking element, said spring and controlling elements While theprevailing combination is disturbed being arranged to hold said lockingelement in engaged relation with said guard means when the securingelement is moved to said third position.

8. In a permutation lock, permutation members each provided With a lockcontrolling element, a securing element movable from an inefi'ectiveposition to an effective position and to a third position slightly pastthe effective position, a locking element controlled by said lockcontrolling elements and adapted to lock said securing element againstmovement from eiective to ineffective position, and a fixed guard withwhich said locking bolt is interlocked when the mechanism is in lockedcondition, said locking element being moved into interlocking relationwith said guard by said securing element when the latter is moved fromsaid third position to its effective position, a spring associated Withsaid locking bolt, said spring and controlling elements while theprevailing combination is disturbed being arranged to hold said lockingelement in engaged relation vvitn said guard means in the event thesecuring member is moved to said third position, and means normallyurging said securing element from effective to ineffective position.

9. In a permutation lock, a plurality of permutation members eachprovided with a lock controlling element, a securing element movablefrom effective to ineffective position, a locking element controlled bysaid lock controlling elements and adapted to engage said securingelement to lock the latter in eiective position when the prevailingcombination is disturbed, means for mounting said locking element forswinging movement and for bodily movement into and out of longitudinalrelation to said securing element. v

10. In a permutation lock, a plurality of permutation members eachprovided with a lock controlling element, a securing element movablefrom an eiective to an ineffective position, a locking elementcontrolled by said lock controlling elements and having a lateralmovement With respect to said securing element and a movement generallyparallel to the direction of movement of said securing element, saidlock controlling elements being arranged to move said locking elementlaterally when the prevailing combination is disturbed, and a guardbehind which said locking element is adapted to engage when themechanism is in locked condition, said securing element when in eiectiveposition being arranged to hold said locking element in engaged relationwith said guard.

11. In a permutation lock, permutation elements each provided with alock controlling ele- ISO i,964,cse

ment, a securing element movable from an ineiiective position to aneffective position and past the eiective position, a locking elementcontrolled by said lock controlling elements and adapted to engage saidsecuring element to hold the latter against movement from effective toineffective position, and a guard, said locking element being movablelaterally into and out of locking relation to said securing element, andalso being movable generally in the direction of movement of saidsecuring element into and out of engagement with said guard, saidsecuring element being arranged to cam said locking element laterallywhen the securing element is moved from ineffective to effectiveposition, said locking element being engaged with said guard by themovement of said securing element from a position past its ineiiectiveposition to its effective position.

l2. In a permutation lock, permutation members each having a lockcontrolling element, a rectilinear-ly movable securing element providedwith a shoulder, a iulcrum between said lock controlling elements andsecuring element, a locking element iulcrlLned thereon and having a dogadapted to cooperate with said shoulder and having portions adapted toengage said lock controlling elements, a spring normally urging saidlocking element against said ulcrum and into engagement with said lockcontrolling elements, and a guard behind which said locking element isadapted to engage when the parts are in locked condition.

i3. In a permutation padlock, a casing having a notched lug on itsinterior and an opening, a shackle having a long arm passing throughsaid lug and secured against withdrawal from the casing, said shacklehaving a short arm movable into and out of the casing through saidopening, a spring normally urging said shackle to ineffective position,permutation members within the casing and each having a lock controllingelement, locking means between said shackle and lock controllingelements, and a nn on the long arm of said shackle adapted to registerwith or engage in the notch of said lug When the short arm of theshackle registers with said opening, said iin being adapted to engagesaid lug to prevent the shackle from being pushed inwardly of the casingwhen the shackle is in any angular position other than where the shortarm of the shackle registers with said openingt i4. In a permutationpadlock, a supporting structure, a shackle having an arm movable intoand out of an opening in the supporting structure and provided with anoutwardly facing shoulder, said supporting structure having a pair oftransversely spaced apart fulcrums and a notch above each fulcrum,permutation elements each having lock controlling elements disposedinwardly of said fulcrum, a locking element having ears adapted toengage against said ulcrums and having a dog adapted to engage saidshoulder, said locking element having fingers adapted to engage theperipheries of said lock controlling elements, a spring normally urgingsaid locking element against said fulcrums, and a spring normally urgingsaid shackle to ineiective position, said ears being free of saidnotches when the padlock is in unlocked condition and said ears beingengaged in said notches when the lock is in locked condition.

15. In a permutation lock, permutation members each having a lockcontrolling element, a securing element provided with a shoulder andmovable from ineffective to eective position and past elective position,a locking element mounted for pivotal movement and for bodily movement,said locking element having a dog adapted to engage said shoulder, aspring normally urging said locking element into engagement with saidsecuring element, and a guard for preventing pivotal movement of thelocking element when said dog is engaged with said shoulder, saidsecuring element being movable past effective position so as todisengage said locking element from said guard.

16. In a permutation lock, a plurality of permutation members eachprovided with a lock controlling element, a securing element movablefrom eiective to inelective position, a locking element controlled bysaid lock controlling elements and adapted to engage said securingelement to lock the latter in eflective position when the prevailingcombination is disturbed, guard means for positively holding saidlocking element in locking relation with the securing element while theprevailing combination is disturbed and said securing element is ineffective position, and means for mounting said locking element forswinging movement into and out of locking relation with said securingelement and for bodily movement into and out of interlocking relationwith said guard.

17. ln a permutation padlock, a casing, a shackle having a long armsecured against withdrawal from the casing and a short arm movable intoand out or the casing, permutation members within the casing and eachhaving a lock controll-inior element, a locking eier-lent cooperatingwith said lock controlling elements and engageable with one of said armsof said shackle when the latter is in effective position, a guard forpositively holding said locking element in locking relation with theshackle when the prevailing combination is disturbed, means for urgingsaid locking element into locking position, and interengaging meansbetween said shackle and locking element for camming said lockingelement from locking position when the shackle is moved from ineiectiveto eiective position.

18. In a permutation padlock, a plurality of independently operablepermutation members each provided with a lock controlling element, ashackle having an effective position and an ineiective position, alocking element controlled by said lock controlling elements andadapted, when the prevailing combination is disturbed, to lock saidshackle in eiiective position, guard means for positively holding saidlocking element in locking relation to said shackle when the shackle isin effective position and while the prevailing combi- -i nation isdisturbed, means for supporting said locking element for movement intoand out of interlocking relation with said guard means, and a spring forurging said locking element into engagement with said shackle when theprevailing combination is disturbed, said shackle being constructed andarranged to move said locking element from locking position when theshackle is moved from ineiective position to eiiective position whilethe prevailing combination is disturbed.

ANTHONY J. DENERICH.

lli()

